Intimate Apparel : Sexy Women's Basque Lingerie

Most women know what a bustier is, but they may not be familiar with the basque. A basque (also known as a torsolette) is a type of tight fitting bodice made to wear as an undergarment or as an intimate apparel. It usually consists of "boning" meant to support and flatter the lines of your torso. In the Victorian era, a basque was a long form-fitting jacket. This type of jacket had a low U or V shaped waist (also known as a "drop waist"), designed to make the body look longer and slimmer. Today's basques follow this same pattern. They cling to the body, uplift the bust line and usually have thin straps.

Probably so called because this intimate apparel came from the Basques, and adopted by the French and then the English.

In Victorian outerwear, basque refers to a closely fitted jacket extending at the back past the waistline over the hips, to be worn over a bustle.